Eclipse Camping/Viewing Options: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming

[Admin]

2. an interest in eclipses far, far less than yours.

This is the thing that Mr. Crocker can't seem to wrap his head around. Even if I could get that midweek day off (which I can't), it's not worth fighting the traffic, crowds, congestion and price-gouging to go see. If it's nearby, then cool. Otherwise, meh -- one celestial body gets in front of another. BFD.

And before he says it, several hours away on an already congested I-15 (southbound I-15 near Honeyville is already a construction clusterf**k even on a normal Saturday afternoon) isn't my definition of "nearby" to go see something I'm already not that excited about in the first place.

 

[Tony Crocker]

People had these pinhole cards that projected the image onto the ground.

That only works during the partial phases.

It got really dark for a couple of minutes.

That implies totality or very close to it, but probably under clouds, which we know was the case for most of Maine. If you had looked up and seen the corona during those two minutes you would definitely remember that.

 

[Marc_C]

People had these pinhole cards that projected the image onto the ground.

That only works during the partial phases.

It got really dark for a couple of minutes.

That implies totality or very close to it, but probably under clouds, which we know was the case for most of Maine. If you had looked up and seen the corona during those two minutes you would definitely remember that.

Don't bet on that. Since then I've seen so many photos and videos of the corona I really can't remember if I saw it live. Like I said, I really don't know where or when - I was just looking for some possibilities.

I've been far more impressed with meteor showers and auroras I've seen than any eclipse event. More memorable, too.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I've been far more impressed with meteor showers and auroras I've seen than any eclipse event. More memorable, too.

That's because your eclipse memories are all partials, MAYBE a total under clouds. I have consistently stated going back to the 2012 annular, that partials are no big deal and not worth travel. So it is indeed strange that admin chose to travel 6+ hours for that annular but not this time.

Since then I've seen so many photos and videos of the corona I really can't remember if I saw it live.

Maybe if you were 2 or 3 years old, certainly not 8. Andrew, who was 10 at our first in Hungary in 1999, would find that statement ludicrous. I considered going with age 6 Adam to Baja in 1991, certainly should have done that in retrospect.

Most publicized meteor showers are at a rate well under one per minute, thus not too exciting. The recent exception was the November Leonids in 2001 at perhaps 1,500 per hour. I have read that the 1966 Leonids were even more impressive, so maybe MarcC saw those. However, you need to be far from light pollution to see a decent proportion of a meteor shower. The November Leonids recur over a 2-3 year time span every 33 years but even then not consistently.

I have limited experience with auroras, specifically the 2015 trip to Iceland. Those auroras were more impressive in photos which brought out more color than they were with naked eye, where they were more bleached out.

 

[Marc_C]

Since then I've seen so many photos and videos of the corona I really can't remember if I saw it live.

Maybe if you were 2 or 3 years old, certainly not 8. Andrew, who was 10 at our first in Hungary in 1999, would find that statement ludicrous.

So in addition to knowing the precise snow conditions at Alta on a given day from 750 miles away, you're now an expert on human memory?

Here's a thought: maybe I just didn't give a crap about the eclipse.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Here's a thought: maybe I just didn't give a crap about the eclipse.

Here's a thought. If your family didn't give a crap about the eclipse, there's no way they would have been in Acadia National Park that day. It surely would have been an absolute madhouse of crowds plus severely limited lodging cost/availability. The numerous options available this August are child's play vs. only upstate Maine during its peak tourist season in the US in 1963. And even within that limited area, Acadia National Park would have been the iconic spot with highest demand.

 

[Marc_C]

Here's a thought: maybe I just didn't give a crap about the eclipse.

Here's a thought. If your family didn't give a crap about the eclipse, there's no way they would have been in Acadia National Park that day. It surely would have been an absolute madhouse of crowds plus severely limited lodging cost/availability. The numerous options available this August are child's play vs. only upstate Maine during peak tourist season in the US in 1963. And even within that limited area, Acadia National Park would have been the iconic spot with highest demand.

I am truly impressed!
Not only an expert on snow conditions from afar and an expert on human memory, but from this thread we've discovered that you're also an expert in 1963 media coverage in Maine, Bar Harbor lodging rates and availability in the summer of 63, and my parent's vacation plans that year and their interest or lack thereof regarding eclipses. And you were only 9 at the time!

Please. Get over yourself.

Didn't care about the eclipse then, don't care enough about this one to travel anywhere.

 

[berkshireskier]

Interesting story about upcoming eclipse!

http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/scientis ... ts-1729391

 

[tseeb]

Maybe somebody should break out the eclipse stuff into it's own thread.

Another interesting part of the eclipse is that there is enough electricity being generated by solar from CA to NC, that they need to account for the temporary reduction caused by the eclipse. See https://qz.com/973684/california-will-l ... on-aug-21/ and https://www.washingtonpost.com/national ... story.html

People living in UT are lucky to only have to drive ~4 hrs N to get to totality. And if you really don't want to fight traffic on I-15, you could take I-80E to Evanston and go N from there. I'm driving 9-10 hours N to get to Bend, OR then will drive about an hour NE to see eclipse. And I-5 is the only fast route almost to the OR border and who knows how many million Californians I will be sharing it with on Monday when I will be driving back so my wife can work the next day. We are not just going for the eclipse as I want my wife to see Bend again as she has not been there since the 80s and my son, who will go to Portland with friends after the eclipse has never been to OR.

And if you are waiting for the 2045 eclipse in Salt Lake City, you better take care of yourself and if anything, you want to go a little further South for longer totality.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Who needs to spend time and money to view an eclipse when the Washington Post (FAKE NEWS! :lol has well-designed collateral like this?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics ... 17-eclipse"

 

[Tony Crocker]

“Seeing a partial eclipse and saying that you have seen an eclipse is like standing outside an opera house and saying that you have seen the opera,” said astronomer Jay M. Pasachoff, as quoted in “Totality: Eclipses of the Sun.”

 

[Admin]

“Seeing a partial eclipse and saying that you have seen an eclipse is like standing outside an opera house and saying that you have seen the opera,” said astronomer Jay M. Pasachoff, as quoted in “Totality: Eclipses of the Sun.”

Which says absolutely nothing about those people who truly don't care about opera.

 

[Tony Crocker]

“Seeing a partial eclipse and saying that you have seen an eclipse is like standing outside an opera house and saying that you have seen the opera,” said astronomer Jay M. Pasachoff, as quoted in “Totality: Eclipses of the Sun.”

Which says absolutely nothing about those people who truly don't care about opera.

Only if said people claim to have seen an opera when they really haven't.

 

[Admin]

Which says absolutely nothing about those people who truly don't care about opera.

Only if said people claim to have seen an opera when they really haven't.

No, that's not the point at all. You can't see the point even though it's right in front of you, just because you can't accept the fact that some of us can't be bothered fighting crowds, price-gougers and other sundry shenanigans to travel hours to go see a shadow. You have a passion for eclipses? Congratulations, I'm glad that you do -- but not everyone shares it, and the fact that they don't share your passion and disrupt their lives to go see a shadow doesn't make them an idiot, as you infer they must be.
And while you've brought it up even though it wasn't the point, who (besides you) anointed you the arbiter of who saw an eclipse and who didn't?

 

[Marc_C]

In a news story last night they warned of lack of available gas and food. They also suggested paper maps and actual cash. The expectation is that cellular and ATM networks will go down due to overload. It also mentioned the possibility / likelihood of ATMs running out of cash.

 

[snowave]

I've never been a big eclipse person, but I've never seen a total, either. I can't decide if its worth the 7 hour drive on 2 lane roads across Eastern CO to get to totality (Scottsbluff NE seems to be my best bet).. that's assuming I don't hit traffic. Lodging is also a problem now that the hotels are all filled, but I can always sleep in the truck. It will probably be a game time decision for me, and whether or not I can not get caught up in all the hype.

 

[Evren]

So much to say here...
First, I feel an eerie convergence with the tribe here this summer. Just about every post has been about a place I had recently been to or been wanting to go. reminds me of how women supposedly get their cycles synchronized after a while.
Along those lines I almost started a thread about eclipse plans last night but decided against it as I had... "no pictures"

 

[Evren]

As for my plans. I was debating doing a contrarian move and going somewhere in the middle of nowhere Wyoming or Idaho but fuck it, I am going to Jackson. Not just Jackson but intend to dispersed camp on shadow mountain (an auspicious name for eclipse watching if ever there was one).
Do you think I will encounter crowds? Hahaha.
The thing is, I will get there early the previous Monday, set up my tent, and go hiking the Tetons. Still worried about getting a spot or whether I can keep ranger paws off of me as there is a five day limit at that location.
There is also an area without limits (or maybe the standard 14) a few miles north.
Friend of mine is flying into slc and driving up to Jackson. We connected late and she had already bought into a 2 bedroom in Jackson on airbnb for... get ready... 1000 dollars (bite your pinky).

 

[Evren]

Sorry about the dispersed posting I will wrap it up. If anyone here has similar plans, we can do a camp-handover later in the week and get around the five-day limit. I sleep in the Subaru and the tent is really just for holding the spot. So it shouldn't be a problem to share camp. You get a spot you wouldn't otherwise, arriving Thu-Fri. I get maybe some supplies (wine or bear-repellent) and company. Interested?

I have car camped in Teton-Yellowstone before but in established sites. And before reading up too much about grizzlies on the net. So a little wary. Though I hear all the bears have put up their dens on AirBnB and gone visiting relatives in Montana for the eclipse. It only makes sense.

 

[Evren]

Reading that wonderful piece of web-art jamesdeluxe linked to, I find out that:

"The Wind River Indian Reservation covers more than 2 million acres and is home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. Visitors need permits to view the eclipse here."

One of my alternative spots was Riverton in Wyoming. Figures that the Injuns are out for scalp, as usual. Bet they make you park 10 miles away and take a shuttle that costs $50. And then, charge extra if you want to take photos, use the crapper, etc. etc. Also, make you hire an Indian guide to explain the significance of the moon to first tribes. No thanks.